How the women’s rights debate impacted Tuesday’s vote

Wednesday

Nov 7, 2012 at 3:15 AMNov 7, 2012 at 5:46 AM

By Andrea Bulfinchabulfinch@fosters.com

DOVER — As Tuesday’s Presidential Election unfolded in communities across the state and nation, there were certain issues such as women’s rights that seemed to play a key role in how many voters cast their ballots at the polls.

Kristin Peto, 39, of Newmarket, was one of those voters.

“For me, abortion is a hot topic. I do support the right to choose, but I also think that sometimes people are awfully quick to use it, just as a quickie form of birth control so I lean more conservative that way. But I think if we can fix some of the tax issues and help people improve their lives, and the economy, that then we can gain the ground to address equal pay and abortion and contraception.”

“It’s always a factor. It’s a very high factor in the way that I voted, or the way that I made my decisions. I would say that it had a considerable impact on the race, and for good reason,” said Stephen Schaefer, 60, of Newmarket.

Tom Duffy, 54, of Dover, said it was definitely one of the issues that should be addressed during an election and that Democrats are more apt to deal with the issue rather than get rid of the programs.

“Because I’m male, I mean, I believe that was like 50 percent. I have to be honest with you on that. I think that you do need to be concerned with those issues, and as long as the candidate you’re endorsing is not going to propose total elimination of that sort of program, that’s one you should be supporting there,” he said.

Jonathan Swiger, 24, of Dover, said issues pertaining to women’s rights have been somewhat of a factor and on his mind as he voted during this election.

“I’m fairly moderate. I consider myself fairly moderate ... It has been a concern for me,” Swiger said.

Some just felt that one candidate stood up for rights in this department more so than the other.

“I think President Obama made it a point to feed the female voters in our country, period,” said Maria Schloesser, 44, of Farmington, noting that Romney did not quite stand up 100 percent for women.

As someone who escorted women in the 1980s to abortion clinics, Dean Rubine, of Lee, said “women’s issues were very important to me.”

Bill Collins, 53, of Farmington, however, thought what was portrayed about Republicans during campaigns regarding issues like women’s rights was mostly fabricated.

“It is important (to me). All the stuff they say about Romney on women’s issues, I don’t think they’re all true,” he said.

Some had their families and future generations on their mind when it came to think about women’s issues.

Gerald Easson said he had his daughters and granddaughters on his mind when casting his vote. Richard Newman said the same thing. “Absolutely, I have two daughters so that is important to me.”

Cathy Lovely, 54, said Romney’s intent to take away the rights of women was one of the main reasons she voted for his opponent.

Other’s thought things like abortion should be legal on a case-by-case basis.

“I think abortion should be legal due to what the situation is,” said Quentin Otte, 19, of Milton.

His sister, Erika, 21, shared a similar sentiment and said women’s issues played a major role in her vote. “Yes, I think women should have the choice if they want an abortion or not, especially incest and being raped.”

Lisa Rosebery, 51-year-old office administrator and Somersworth resident, said she was pro-abortion and women’s issues most definitely played a role with her thought process in voting, which she did for gubernatorial candidate Ovide Lamontagne. “A lot of the ads against Ovide are not even true,” she said. “People need to get the actual facts,” she said.

Other issues were more of a priority for some who even thought Obama’s approach was somewhat insulting to women when it came to making decisions for their own bodies.

“Women’s rights are certainly important but I’m voting for the economy,” said Kirsten Larsen Schultz, 38, of Somersworth. “I don’t agree with the Obama campaign’s take on women — I think it ‘dumbs’ down women. We’re more than what they’re making us out to be.”

Along the same vein, Maxine Smirles, 71, of Somersworth, didn’t even think there truly were any women’s issues during this election.

“Women’s rights has been made an issue by the Obama administration,” Smirles said. “It’s not an issue, it has just been made one.”

Michael Weeden, 21, a Dover city councilor and UNH student running for re-election for State Representative in District 17, shared a similar view, saying women’s issues were important, but not necessarily as big an issue as it has come across. ““I’m for women’s rights, but I believe Romney does support women, unlike the media says.”

Being pro-choice, for some, didn’t necessarily mean pro-abortion.

Martin Paradis, 75, said a woman has the right to do what she wants for herself, but that doesn’t mean she can do the same for an unborn child.

“A woman has the right to do whatever she wants with her body but she doesn’t have the right to do what she wants with a child’s body — that means no abortion,” he said. “Leave the kid alone.” .

Jason Berndt, of Madbury, just didn’t want government telling anyone what to do. “I’m definitely pro-choice. I don’t want people to be told what to do.”

While the presidential race got most of the attention throughout all campaigning, local government was on the minds of voters in the Seacoast as well.

Grace Ayer, 19, of Dover was one of the voters who thought about local government first.

“I think that they were more so on the state and local level than at the national level because I think that local issues effect me more locally,” she said.

Anne McGibbon, 71, of Farmington, summed up the sentiments of most everyone Foster’s interviewed Tuesday regarding issues on women’s rights.

“Oh, god yes. It’s my opinion. It’s my body and nobody in this world has a right to tell me what to do with my body,” she said.